Device for producing meat products

ABSTRACT

A device for producing meat products includes an assembly formed from a plurality of walls maintainable in a fixed relationship to one another during a joining operation, surfaces of the plurality of walls defining work surfaces disposed to surround raw pieces of meat placed therein to be joined. A drive mechanism is configured to drive the assembly, which can form a cooking container such as a cooking box, along a first axis in a reciprocating movement of at least 10 mm along the first axis at frequency of at least 1 Hz and to drive the assembly along a second axis in a reciprocating movement of at least 10 mm along the second axis at frequency of at least 1 Hz, wherein the first axis and the second axis are angled with respect to each other, and the drive mechanism drives the assembly at different frequencies along the first and second axes.

PRIORITY CLAIM AND REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a divisional of and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §§ 120 and121 from prior application Ser. No. 15/112,330, which was filed on Jul.18, 2016 and is incorporated by reference herein, which application wasa 35 U.S.C. 371 US National Phase and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119, 35 U.S.C. 365(b) and all applicable statutes and treaties fromprior PCT Application PCT/EP2015/052003, which was filed Jan. 30, 2015,which application claimed priority from German Application DE 10 2014201 819, which was filed Jan. 31, 2014.

FIELD

A field of the invention is meat processing devices, and particularlydevices that can join together and cook raw pieces of meat.

BACKGROUND

EP 1139798 B1 describes the insertion of pieces of meat, which have beenrumbled in a generic method, into a mold and the cooking of these piecesof meat in the mold.

DE 4324626 A1 describes a rumbling or rubbing machine for raw meat,which has a driven paddle for loading and stirring raw pieces of meat ina container.

DE 4026501 A1 describes a conventional rumbling machine with a rotatingdrum, on the inner surface of which driving dogs are attached, whichtake up pieces of meat and drop them free again. For the treatment rawpieces of meat with such rumbling machines, it is suggested to providefor cooling bodies during the mechanical loading of the pieces of meatwithin the drum.

These known devices for treatment of raw pieces of meat by mechanicalloading are disadvantageous in that for sufficient mechanical loadingfor the meat juice to flow out resp. for sticking of the raw pieces ofmeat, the operation takes much time, for example several hours fordrums. A further disadvantage, in particular of open drums for rumbling,is that the pieces of meat are treated in contact with ambient air if nocomplex vacuuming of the drum is performed. Furthermore, such drumsrequire that the raw pieces of meat are freely movable, so that atreatment of a plurality of pieces of meat is not possible within acommon sheath. A disadvantage lies in that this process generallyincreases the germ load of the product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device for producing meat products includes an assembly formed from aplurality of walls maintainable in a fixed relationship to one anotherduring a joining operation, surfaces of the plurality of walls definingwork surfaces disposed to surround raw pieces of meat placed therein tobe joined. A drive mechanism is configured to drive the assembly, whichcan form a cooking container such as a cooking box, along a first axisin a reciprocating movement of at least 10 mm along the first axis atfrequency of at least 1 Hz and to drive the assembly along a second axisin a reciprocating movement of at least 10 mm along the second axis atfrequency of at least 1 Hz, wherein the first axis and the second axisare angled with respect to each other, and the drive mechanism drivesthe assembly at different frequencies along the first and second axes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described more preciselywith reference to the figures, which show schematically

in FIG. 1 a first embodiment of the device,

in FIG. 2 a first embodiment of the device,

in FIG. 3 a first embodiment of the device,

in FIG. 4 another first embodiment of the device,

in FIG. 5 a second embodiment of the device,

in FIG. 6 a second embodiment of the device and

in FIGS. 7 to 9 a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention concerns a device for producing meat products withraw pieces of meat, which are joined together and subsequently cooked,e.g. in a form such as boiled ham. Optionally, the raw pieces of meatcan uptake aqueous compositions, e.g. liquid flavor, by means of theprocess in particular for seasoning and/or in order to compensate forweight losses during the subsequent cooking and/or marinated by means ofthe process with aqueous or oily compositions.

The device is characterized in that it effects rapid joining of rawpieces of meat through an effective mechanical loading on them, whichallows for a considerably shorter duration of this process step comparedto the treatment with conventional rumbling machines or tumblers.Preferably, the device and the process allow to mechanically subject toload raw pieces of meat in a mold, optionally in an elastic sheath or arigid mold, e.g. a cooking box, until their joining resp. stickingoccurs, e.g. through outflow of meat juice and/or decompaction of theirstructure. The mechanical loading of raw pieces of meat up to theirjoining is also called rumbling, rubbing or tumbling.

The invention provides a device for applying a mechanical loading on rawpieces of meat for use in manufacturing meat products, allowing to carryout a faster process for producing meat products, in particularmechanical loading the raw pieces of meat up to them sticking togetherand, preferably, the raw pieces of meat can be contained in a sheath. Afurther object is to provide a process and a device for fastintroduction of an aqueous or oily composition into raw meat, e.g. formarinating. While doing so, aqueous compositions are to compensate e.g.weight losses during subsequent cooking

The invention achieves the object by the features of the claims, inparticular with a device and the use thereof as meat treatment machinefor producing meat products, resp. with a process, which can be carriedout in particular with the device. The device has work surfaces, whichspan over resp. comprise an internal volume, at least one work surfaceof which has a drive for reciprocating movement, e.g. with a frequencyof at least 0.5 Hz, in particular at least 1 Hz, preferably at least 5Hz, more preferably at least 10 Hz, more preferably at least 50 Hz. Thereciprocating movement of the work surface is preferably performed withan amplitude that is adapted to the mass of raw meat, e.g. at least 0.5cm to 10 cm for 10 kg of raw meat. Generally preferably, the device andthe process therefore has a fixed or adjustable amplitude for thereciprocating movement. The at least one driven work surface serves forloading the at least one work surface against raw pieces of meat, whichare arranged in the internal volume spanned over by the work surfaces.Preferably, the raw pieces of meat are cooked following the process,e.g. in a mold for producing boiled ham.

The at least one work surface can be driven to perform a reciprocatingmovement relatively against the pieces of meat by being fixed relativeto the other work surfaces and these being driven together for thereciprocating movement, so that it is driven by the inertia of thepieces of meat relatively against them, or the at least one work surfacecan be driven relative to at least one other work surface, so that theat least one driven work surface can load raw pieces of meat against atleast one other work surface. The work surfaces can be continuous andtightly encompass the internal volume, in particular in embodiments, inwhich the raw pieces of meat are arranged directly on the work surfaces.Alternatively, the work surfaces can be discontinuous and encompass theinternal volume with a spacing from one another, so that e.g. gaps areformed between neighboring work surfaces, in particular if the internalvolume is lined by an elastic sheath and/or by a rigid sheath, in whichthe raw meat is to be arranged. Discontinuous work surfaces can consistof a grating or of spaced rods and form e.g. a grating cage or rod cagearound the internal volume. Preferably, an elastic or a rigid sheath isclosed. More preferably, an elastic or a rigid sheath contains the rawpieces of meat without air inclusions resp. under vacuum. An elasticsheath can e.g. consist of a single- or multi-layer plastic foil,optionally with a reinforcing fabric on the external side. An elasticsheath can also be a stiff plastic foil or a metal sheet, which isannularly closed and the cross-section of which is open terminally or iscovered by an elastic foil. A rigid sheath can e.g. be a rigid can madeof plastics and/or metal. The amplitude and/or frequency at which thework surface is driven can be controlled depending on a signal of asensor, which is e.g. a conductivity measuring device, a pressuresensor, a conductivity sensor, a pH sensor or a color sensor. Furtheroptionally, the amplitude and/or frequency can be predetermineddepending on the meat product to be produced from the raw pieces of meator controlled depending on a signal of a sensor in predetermineddimension according to an algorithm that is specific for the meatproduct to be produced. So it is preferred to adjust the amplitudeand/or frequency as well as the duration of the reciprocating movementfor boiled ham as meat product such that sticking together of the rawpieces of meat is achieved, resp. for cooked sausage such that the rawpieces of meat do not stick together.

In a first embodiment, in which the work surfaces are fixed relative toone another or at least one work surface is arranged movably relative toanother one, the raw pieces of meat arranged in the internal volume thatis spanned over by the work surfaces are mechanically loaded by thepulse, which is produced by the reciprocating movement. Thereciprocating movement can therefore also be called shaking.

Generally, the reciprocating movement can take place along a motionaxis, along two or three motion axes, which are each at an angle withrespect to each other, e.g. in 90°, in particular for a fixed assemblyof the work surfaces with respect to one another. Here, it is preferredthat the reciprocating movement along each one of the motion axes isperformed with a frequency of at least 0.5 Hz. For a reciprocatingmovement along two motion axes, an assembly of work surfaces that arefixed with respect to one another is e.g. moved along a Lissajousfigure. Here, it is preferred that the reciprocating movement takesplace along two or three motion axes each at a different frequency, e.g.with a difference of 5 to 50% of the frequencies with respect to thehigher frequency. For two motion axes, which are at 90° to each other,the reciprocating movement can take place along the first motion axise.g. at a frequency of 5 Hz and along the second motion axis at 0.1 to4.9 Hz, in particular at 4.1 to 4.8 Hz.

Generally, the raw pieces of meat can be treated with the process in amixture with solid salt and/or a liquid composition, which contains e.g.spices and/or salt. It has shown that the process then leads toeffective uptake of salt, e.g. distributed in dissolved form in the rawmeat, and/or water with spice. Accordingly, the process can also effectsalting and marinating of raw meat, when treating raw meat with anaqueous composition for uptaking this composition in the meat. In thisembodiment, the device can have a detector for determination of theproportion of aqueous composition, which is present within the internalvolume in addition to the raw pieces of meat, wherein the drive motor iscontrolled depending on the detector, e.g. the drive motor is stoppedwhen the detector detects an aqueous composition below a predefinedproportion. In this embodiment, the device is set up e.g. to stop thedrive motor for the reciprocating movement if no free aqueouscomposition is determined in addition to the raw meat.

Generally, in particular in the first embodiment, at least one of thework surfaces can be fixed in different positions in order to adjust theinternal volume in a predefined ratio to the raw meat. A work surfacecan e.g. be fixable in a first position, in which the internal volumecomprised by the work surfaces is filled only proportionately, e.g. to70 to 90% with raw pieces of meat, in particular during thereciprocating movement, and the work surface can be subsequently movedto a second position and fixed in this position for the cooking, inwhich second position the raw pieces of meat are pressed against oneanother, e.g. until the internal volume comprised by the work surfacesis completely filled with raw pieces of meat.

In a second embodiment, at least one work surface, which is arrangedmovably relative to another one, is driven to a reciprocating movementrelatively against another work surface, so that the pulse of thisreciprocating movement loads the raw pieces of meat against the worksurfaces, which span over the internal volume. An assembly of the worksurfaces with respect to one another, in which a work surface isarranged movably relatively against another, can be e.g. a conventionalcooking box, in which a wall, e.g. an end wall, which forms a worksurface, is movable relatively against the other walls.

According to the invention, the raw pieces of meat can be arranged in asheath, which is formed elastically in all embodiments, e.g. by aplastic foil, or can be rigid, e.g. a can, optionally made of metalsheet or plastics. Accordingly, the device optionally has an elastic ora rigid sheath within the internal volume spanned over by the worksurfaces, in which the raw pieces of meat are to be arranged. Furtheroptionally, the pieces of meat can be arranged in a cooking box, the onewall of which is movable relative to the other one, or in a cooking box,the walls of which are fixed to one another in a state arranged aroundthe internal volume. Here, the walls form the work surfaces. Optionally,a sheath can be arranged within a cooking box. Accordingly, for thedevice, the internal volume spanned over by the work surfaces can belined by an elastic sheath or a rigid sheath for arranging the rawpieces of meat therein. In particular in embodiments, in which theinternal volume is comprised resp. limited by a cooking box, which formsthe work surfaces fixed to one another in an assembly, these 2 worksurfaces are loaded against the raw pieces of meat for movement along amotion axis, which runs perpendicular to 2 work surfaces. For a movementalong two motion axes arranged perpendicular to each other, the worksurfaces arranged at an angle >0°, in particular in perpendicular, withrespect to the motion axes act against the raw pieces of meat.Accordingly, for a movement of the work surfaces fixed to one another inan assembly, which surfaces are formed e.g. by a cooking box, alongthree motion axes arranged at an angle, e.g. arranged perpendicular toone another, all work surfaces act against the raw pieces of meat.

Optionally, work surfaces can have at least two electric contacts, whichform a conductivity sensor, e.g. two work surfaces opposite to eachother, which are fixed relative to each other. Further optionally, asheath, which is arranged in the internal volume and in which the rawpieces of meat are to be arranged, can have electrically conductivesections, which abut to such electric contacts of the work surface, or asheath can have a conductivity sensor. In this embodiment, the devicehas a conductivity measuring device resp. resistance measuring device,in order to measure the change in electric conductivity resp. inelectric resistance of the raw pieces of meat. Since the electricresistance resp. the impedance of raw pieces of meat decreases withincreasing mechanical load, the device can have a control unit, whichemits a signal and/or stops the drive upon reaching a predeterminedabsolute or relative change in the resistance resp. the conductivity.

Further optionally, work surfaces can have electric contacts forsupplying electric voltage, which are connected with a generator forgeneration of electric current. The electric current can have electricpulses, e.g. high voltage pulses, in particular with pulse powers ofapprox. 3 to 10 MW, preferably 5 MW, for a pulse duration of 10 to 30μs, for a time of 3 to 5 ms between the pulses, for a mean power of 25to 50 kW, preferably approx. 25 kW, in order to open cell walls of theraw pieces of meat, which thus favor a material exchange. Alternativelyor additionally, the electric current can have a continuous power forheating the raw pieces of meat, e.g. from generators for the ohmicheating, e.g. with a power of 1 to 150 kW, preferably 10 to 35 kW or 15to 25 kW. Here, a sheath can be arranged in the internal volume, whichabuts to the work surfaces and has electrically conductive sections atleast adjacent to the electric contacts or is fully electricallyconductive. Further optionally, the work surface can have at least insections electric contacts, which have needle-shaped attachment parts.Such needle-shaped attachment parts of electric contacts can piercethrough a sheath, e.g. foil, in order to establish an electronic contactto the raw pieces of meat.

The assembly of the work surfaces around an internal volume, in whichthe raw pieces of meat are to be arranged and the drive of at least onework surface to perform a reciprocating movement at the frequency leadsto an intensive mechanical loading of the raw pieces of meat, whichleads to their sticking or to the uptake of an aqueous or oilycomposition within considerably shorter time than e.g. with arotationally driven treatment drum or with a rotationally driven drivingdog within a treatment drum.

The raw pieces of meat need not be able to move freely within theinternal volume against one another and can moreover, while carrying outthe process, essentially completely fill the internal space resp. theinternal volume. Therefore, the device allows a production process, inwhich the raw pieces of meat are arranged within an elastic or a rigidsheath, which can optionally be under vacuum. Furthermore, the deviceallows a process, in which the pieces of meat are subsequently shapedand cooked in the same sheath.

The device can for example be set up for a reciprocating movement of theat least one work surface over an amplitude of 1 mm, more preferably 2mm, more preferably at least 5 mm or at least 10 mm, e.g. up to 200 mm,more preferably up to 50 mm or up to 20 mm. Further preferably, thedevice is set up for a jerkily reciprocating movement of the worksurface. The device can be set up for a linear, sinusoidal,triangle-shaped or arc-shaped reciprocating movement of the worksurface. Since the trajectory of the reciprocating movement affects theload onto the raw pieces of meat against work surfaces, a linearreciprocating movement is preferred for an internal volume resp. asheath of rectangular shape resp. an arc-shaped reciprocating movement,in particular for an internal volume resp. a sheath of round to ovalshape. When the device is set up for the reciprocating movement alongexactly one motion axis, this motion axis is preferably non-linear, e.g.arched. In fact, a non-linear motion axis is beneficial for a uniformtreatment of raw meat by its thorough mixing, also in the presence of anadded liquid composition.

The device has work surfaces, which delimit an internal volume, in whichraw pieces of meat are arranged while carrying out the process. The worksurfaces can optionally tightly enclose the internal spacecircumferentially or be arranged with a spacing from one another,wherein it is preferred that, while carrying out the process, the rawpieces of meat are enclosed in a sheath, e.g. a plastic foil.

Preferably, a lower work surface can be opened resp. moved away from theinternal volume to allow opening of the internal volume for the rawpieces of meat to fall out after the reciprocating movement. Furtherpreferably, an upper work surface can be moved away from the internalvolume to allow opening of the internal volume to fill in the raw piecesof meat. In this manner, the device can be filled while carrying out theprocess for batchwise treatment with raw pieces of meat after opening ofan upper work surface, with subsequent closing of the internal volume bymeans of the upper work surface, and after the reciprocating movementopening of a lower work surface to allow falling out of the raw piecesof meat. Such upper and lower work surfaces to be opened, can be formedby only one work surface if the device moves from a first position, inwhich the one work surface is arranged above the internal volume, into asecond position, in which this work surface is arranged below theinternal volume.

Generally preferably, the work surfaces are temperature-controlled, inparticular cooled, during the tumbling.

Generally, the work surfaces can, for example, be arranged to form a boxwith a triangular or rectangular, optionally polygonal cross-section.Alternatively, the work surfaces can comprise an internal space with anoval or a round cross-section, the terminal openings of which arecovered by work surfaces, which can be arched or flat. Preferably, thework surfaces comprise a cylindrical internal volume.

In a first embodiment, the work surfaces can be fixed in relation to oneanother and the device is set up for mechanical loading of the rawpieces of meat arranged in the internal space delimited by the worksurfaces by means of a reciprocating movement due to the work surfacesbeing fixed against one another and are connected with a drive motor forthe reciprocating movement. A drive motor can generally have a rotarydrive shaft, e.g. with an eccentric drive, or a drive motor can be alinear drive, e.g. an electric or hydraulic resp. pneumatic, linearlyeffective drive.

The reciprocating movement can be a linear movement, wherein theassembly of work surfaces is mounted in a linearly movable manner, or anarc-shaped movement including a movement along a low-frequency Lissajousfigure, wherein the assembly of the work surfaces is mounted e.g. on apivot bearing and at a distance therefrom, for example, on a worksurface opposite the pivot bearing, connected with a drive motor for areciprocating movement.

The above-mentioned movements can be optimized with respect to theirintensity and amplitude via sensors for the respective process, sincethe filling amount of the molds can vary. The sensors measure e.g. theforce transmission (e.g. pressure sensors), the conductivity and/or thecolor and are arranged in or on work surfaces.

In the first embodiment, the fixed assembly of the work surfaces to oneanother can be mounted movably in a frame, wherein a drive is attachedbetween the frame and the assembly of work surfaces for thereciprocating movement of the fixed assembly of the work surfacesrelative to the frame. In this embodiment, two or more assemblies ofwork surfaces, which have a common drive for the reciprocating movement,can optionally be arranged, wherein they are driven in such a manner bythe drive that their reciprocating movement is antagonistic. Such anembodiment has the advantage that a compensation for the oscillations ofthe reciprocating movement is effected by the at least two assemblies ofwork surfaces that are driven to perform an antagonistic reciprocatingmovement.

In the first embodiment, the device can be set up to produce a rollingmovement of the raw pieces of meat, wherein a sheath is preferablyarranged in the internal volume spanned over by the work surfaces, themean cross-section of which is smaller than the parallel meancross-section of the internal volume. To produce a rolling movement, thework surfaces span over e.g. an internal volume with an at leasttriangular or rectangular, more preferably pentagonal to octagonal,symmetrical or not symmetrical cross-section, e.g. an oval or roundcross-section and the device is set up to perform a reciprocatingmovement along a motion axis resp. in a plane, which runs approximatelyparallel up to a small angle, e.g. of 20° max., to this cross-section.The rolling movement, which can run in a direction, effects thereciprocating movement of the work surface.

In a closed mold, an underfilling (e.g. filling to 80%) of the internalvolume, which is spanned over by the work surfaces will produce a roundproduct with meat by the device being set up to produce thereciprocating movement in the form of low-frequency Lissajous figures,e.g. by the drive motor being controlled to produce oscillations of anassembly of work surfaces for their rotation promoting low-frequencyLissajous figures. Since the raw pieces of meat begin to stick togetherwhile carrying out the process, a rolling movement appears in the courseof the process, which leads to producing meat products with anapproximately round cross-section. Therein, the reciprocating movementcan also be a revolving movement resp. be effected by a revolvingmovement along at least one motion axis of the work surfaces fixed in anassembly around the internal volume.

In a second embodiment, at least one of the work surfaces, preferablytwo opposite work surfaces, are movably guided relative to the otherwork surface for the reciprocating movement. In this embodiment, thedevice is set up such that the reciprocating movement of at least onework surface relative to the other work surfaces resp. against theinternal volume spanned over by the work surfaces loads the raw piecesof meat mechanically at the frequency. In this embodiment of the device,the process can provide for that the internal volume is completelyfilled out by raw pieces of meat, preferably by raw pieces of meat,which are enclosed under vacuum by a sheath.

The reciprocating movement can be a linear movement, wherein also a worksurface can be linearly movable, or an arc-shaped movement, wherein theat least one work surface is mounted e.g. on a pivot bearing and isconnected at a distance therefrom, for example, on a work surfaceopposite the pivot bearing, with a drive motor for a reciprocatingmovement.

In the second embodiment, the at least one guided work surface, which isalso driven to perform a reciprocating movement driven, can be a sidewall, e.g. a longitudinal wall, if the work surfaces comprise abox-shaped internal volume, or the work surface, which is driven toperform a reciprocating movement can be part of the end wall resp.narrow-side wall for the assembly of the work surfaces around abox-shaped internal volume resp. a cylindrical internal volume or aninternal volume with an oval cross-section.

In the second embodiment, it is preferred that two opposite worksurfaces, which span over the internal volume, are driven to perform anantagonistic reciprocating movement (e.g. half-ovals that engage in oneanother).

Here, the driven work surface can be elastic in the second embodiment,e.g. in order to abut continuously to adjacent, optionally rigid worksurfaces, and to be loaded resp. moved by a linearly guided drive or arotational drive. A rotational drive can be a rotational element, whichis loaded against the surface of the driven work surface facing awayfrom the internal volume.

Alternatively or additionally, the driven work surface can be formeddiscontinuous to neighboring resp. adjacent work surfaces, e.g. as alinearly or rotationally driven work surface, which can consist of aplurality of subsections. In this embodiment, it is preferred that theinternal volume, which is included in the work surface, is lined by anelastic sheath.

In the first embodiment, it is preferred that a process is filled by theinternal volume spanned over by the work surfaces to 10-100% by volume,more preferably 40-100% by volume, more preferably 70-95% by volume,even more preferably 80-90% by volume, in order to achieve an effectivemechanical loading on the raw pieces of meat against work surfacesduring the reciprocating movement of the assembly of work surfaces fixedagainst one another.

The process shows that the mechanical load on the raw pieces of meat bymeans of reciprocating movement of at least one work surface relativelyagainst the pieces of meat or also the impingement of the joined rawpieces of meat with a pulse, which penetrates the raw pieces of meat,leads to an effective treatment, in particular for tumbling for thesubsequent sticking and cooking, in particular for boiled ham, and/or toeffective uptaking of an aqueous or oily composition, which was added tothe raw meat. The mechanical load leads to the speed change (resp.acceleration) of the raw pieces of meat for their compaction. It hasshown that the mechanical load against the work walls by thereciprocating movement at the frequency is enough to open the meatstructure sufficiently, resp. to let meat juice flow out, in order toallow the raw pieces of meat to adhere to one another resp. to stick toone another, so that the subsequent cooking leads to a cooked massconsisting of pieces of meat. A result comparable to conventionalrumbling resp. tumbling in a drum over 8 hours, is obtained within 30 to60 minutes, preferably within a maximum of 10 min or a maximum of 5 min,e.g. at a frequency of the reciprocating movement of 10 to 1 Hz, inparticular 8 Hz, with the device according to the invention.

A particular advantage of the device according to the invention is thatit allows the mechanical loading of the raw pieces of meat when they areenclosed in a sheath, optionally under vacuum. Therefore, the deviceallows a process, in which the raw pieces of meat are enclosed by asheath, optionally under exclusion of air resp. under vacuum, and aremechanically loaded, with subsequent cooking in the sheath. Moreover,this embodiment allows handling of the mechanically loaded pieces ofmeat as a mass enclosed by the sheath and can in this manner avoid thehandling for filling loose pieces of meat into a mold for the cooking asis required for conventional rumbling devices, and reduces the durationof contact of the pieces of meat with ambient air, which limits thepossible contamination.

In the figures, the same reference numerals designate functionally equalelements. In all embodiments, the internal volume spanned over by thework surfaces 1-4 can be lined by an elastic sheath 11 or a rigid sheath7, in which the raw pieces of meat 6 are arranged during the process.

The first embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 1 has an internalvolume with a rectangular or oval resp. round cross-section, which isspanned over by the work surface 1 and the work surfaces 2, which coverthe openings on the end faces of the internal volume. As schematicallyindicated by the motor M, the assembly of work surfaces 1, 2 fixedagainst one another is movably guided to a reciprocating movement, whichcan be in particular linear. Opposite the drive motor M, the assemblyconsisting of work surfaces 1, 2 can be mounted either against a frameor the underground. Alternatively, the assembly of work surfaces 1, 2can be hung to a drive arm 5 coupled with the motor and, for example,mounted in a longitudinally movable manner in a vertically arrangedlinear guide.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is set up for an arched reciprocatingmovement and has a pivot bearing 10, which is, for example, attached toa stationary frame, and a spaced drive arm 5, which is connected withthe motor M. FIG. 2 shows a variant, in which the work surface 1 spansover a circular or oval cross-section, the terminal openings of whichare covered by the work surfaces 2. Work surfaces, which span over acircular or an oval cross-section, are generally preferably assembledfrom at least two half-molds resp. half-shells.

FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment, in which the raw pieces of meat 6 arearranged in a rigid sheath 7, e.g. a cooking box 8 having walls fixedagainst one another. The sheath 7 is surrounded by work surfaces 1-4, sothat the movements that are transferred onto the work surfaces 1-4 bythe drive motors M act on the rigid sheath 7. Due to the inertia of theraw pieces of meat 6, which are enclosed by the work surfaces 1-4 resp.the rigid sheath 7, these raw pieces of meat 6 are mechanically loadedduring the reciprocating movement of the work surfaces 1-4. The drivemotors M can be arranged such that the directions of the generatedmovements are approximately perpendicular to one another, so thatpreferably the work surfaces 1-4 fixed against one another are moved inall three spatial directions. The indicated spring elements 9 representa bearing for the work surfaces 1-4. The drive motors M areschematically indicated by rotary drive shafts with an eccentric drive12. Alternatively, the drive motors M can be linear drives, e.g.electric or hydraulic resp. pneumatic linear drives.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment, in which the work surfaces 1-4 surround arigid sheath 7 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, in which theraw pieces of meat are arranged during the process. An elastic sheath11, in which the raw pieces of meat are contained during the process,can be arranged within the rigid sheath 7, wherein the elastic sheath ispreferably vacuumed in order to enclose the raw pieces of meat, ifnecessary in a mixture with salt and spices, tightly and essentiallywithout any air inclusion. When using rotary drives as drive motors M,it is preferred that the connection with the assembly of work surfacesfixed against one another is established by means of an eccentric drive12 on the drive motor and a rotary bearing 13. Generally, the device canhave 2 drive motors as shown here, which are connected with the assemblyof work surfaces fixed against one another, in order to drive them toperform two reciprocating movements arranged at an angle, in particularperpendicular to each other. Generally, two or more drive motors can becontrolled to perform movements, which overlap to Lissajous figures.

FIG. 5 shows a device according to the second embodiment, in which thework surfaces 1, 2, 3, 4 span over an internal volume with a rectangularcross-section, wherein the work surface 1 is driven by the motor M to areciprocating movement, which is preferably linear, but can also be atilting movement, for example about an axis which runs longitudinallywith respect to the work surface 1. FIG. 5 shows an elastic sheath 11,which lines the internal volume, which is spanned over by the worksurfaces 1-4 and in which the raw pieces of meat 6 (not represented) arecontained during the process.

FIG. 6 shows the device according to the second embodiment, in which twoopposite work surfaces 2 are driven slidably against one another to areciprocating movement. These work surfaces 2 that are driven to areciprocating movement can, for example, cover the terminal openings ofan internal volume having a circular or an oval cross-section, which isspanned over by the work surfaces 1.

As an alternative to the two drive motors M shown in FIG. 6, theopposite work surfaces 2 can also be driven by a common motor via drivearms 5 to an antagonistic reciprocating movement.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 provides for the raw pieces of meat6, which are enclosed by an elastic sheath 11, in particular undervacuum, being loaded by work surfaces 1-4, which are driven by a drivemotor which carries out a rotary movement, or by a linear drive (notrepresented). Here, the FIGS. 7 and 8 show an embodiment, in which allwork surfaces are driven and an elastic sheath 11 is held between thework surfaces. In this embodiment, the work surfaces 1-4 arediscontinuous and comprise a varying internal volume, in which theelastic sheath 11 is arranged. Therein, the work surfaces 1-4 can bedriven in the same direction of rotation, so that the elastic sheath 11arranged between them can rotate freely in the opposite direction.

FIG. 8 shows a turned position of the work surfaces 1-4 compared withFIG. 7 and an elastic sheath 11 deformed according to the discontinuousinternal volume formed by the work surfaces 1-4. Optionally, the worksurfaces 1-4 can generally, in particular in the embodiment according toFIG. 7-9, be formed at least in sections by rollers 14, which arepreferably mounted freely rotating, as is shown by way of example of theupper work surfaces 1-4 of FIG. 7.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 as well as 9, in addition to areciprocating movement of the work surfaces 1-4, a rotating movement ofthe work surfaces 1-4 also effects a reciprocating movement of thesheath 11. Therefore, the sheath 11 forms the work surfaces in theseembodiments. Therefore, at least with respect to this embodiment, thework surfaces 1-4 are also called work elements, wherein the loadedsheath driven by them to a reciprocating movement forms the worksurfaces, which load the raw pieces of meat.

FIG. 9 shows according to the second embodiment a device with aninternal volume, which is encompassed by work surfaces 1-4, of which atleast one work surface 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d is driven. Therein, FIG. 9also shows alternatives for driven work surfaces 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d,which are not exhaustive. The work surfaces 2-3 are not driven andrigid. By way of example, the work surface 1 a shows an elastic worksurface 1 a, which is driven by rotating rollers 14 as the drive. Thedrive is loaded against the work surface 1 a on the surface of worksurface 1 a that is facing away from the internal volume As a furtherexample, the work surface 1 b shows a linearly guided work surface 1 b,which is driven e.g. by a linear drive. As a further example, the worksurface 1 c shows a work surface, which has rotary driven protrusionsand the work surface 1 d a rotary driven work surface 1 d, which insections has rollers 14, in particular at least in the terminal region.The internal volume, in particular its cross-section, can bediscontinuous, e.g. as shown for work surfaces 1 c and 1 d, orcontinuous, as shown for the driven elastic work surface 1 a and thelinearly driven work surface 1 b. In this embodiment, it is preferredthat the internal volume is lined by an elastic sheath 11, resp. thatthe raw pieces of meat are enclosed by an elastic sheath 11, inparticular under vacuum.

The above examples support preferred embodiments, such as a device forproducing meat products with discontinuously or continuously arrangedwork surfaces (1, 2, 3, 4), which encompass an internal volume and atleast one work surface (1) of which is arranged for mechanical loadingagainst raw pieces of meat to be arranged in the internal volume,characterized in that the at least one work surface (1, 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1d) is driven to perform a guided reciprocating movement with a frequencyof at least 0.5 Hz for at least 0.5 min by means of a drive motor (M).The device can be characterized in that the internal volume is linedwith an elastic sheath (11) or a rigid sheath (7). The device can becharacterized in that the work surfaces (1, 2, 3, 4) are fixed relativeto one another into an assembly and in this assembly are driven to areciprocating movement. The device can be characterized in that theassembly of work surfaces (1, 2, 3, 4) fixed against one another isguided in a frame for the reciprocating movement. The device can becharacterized in that the device has two assemblies of work surfaces (1,2, 3, 4) fixed against one another, which are driven in a common frameto an antagonistic reciprocating movement. The device can becharacterized in that the assembly of work surfaces (1, 2, 3, 4) fixedagainst one another is guided to the movement along at least two motionaxes, wherein the device is set up to drive the assemblies along themotion axes each at different frequencies, to a reciprocating movement.The device can be characterized in that the at least one work surface(1, 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d) is driven to a reciprocating movement relativeto the other work surfaces (2, 3, 4). The device can be characterized inthat the at least one work surface (1, 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d) is driven toa reciprocating movement relative to the other work surfaces (2, 3, 4)and, optionally, its amplitude is dynamically adjustable. The device canbe characterized in that the at least one work surface (1, 1 a, 1 b, 1c, 1 d) is elastic and/or is driven by a linear drive motor (M) or arotating drive motor (M). The device can be characterized in that, inwork surfaces (1, 2, 3, 4), two spaced-apart electric contacts arearranged, which are connected with a conductivity measuring device or animpedance measuring device and in that the elastic sheath (11) or rigidsheath (7) is electrically conductive at least in the area adjacent tothe electric contacts or the electric contacts penetrate the elasticsheath (11) or rigid sheath (7). The device can be characterized in thatthe drive motor (M) is controlled depending on the conductivity orimpedance measuring device or depending on a detector for the amount ofaqueous composition, which is present within the internal volume inaddition to the raw pieces of meat. The device can be characterized inthat the reciprocating movement is non-linear. The device can becharacterized in that the internal volume comprised by the work surfaceshas an at least triangular cross-section and the mean cross-section ofthe sheath (7, 11) is smaller than the mean cross-section of theinternal volume and in that the plane of the reciprocating movement isin a plane that is parallel up to maximally 20° to the cross-section ofthe internal volume. The device can be characterized in that the worksurfaces are movable against one another, comprising an internal volumewith a round to oval cross-section and are driven on a base to perform arolling movement around this cross-section. The device can becharacterized in that in work surfaces (1, 2, 3, 4) at least 2spaced-apart electric contacts are arranged, which are connected with agenerator for production of electric current and in that the elasticsheath (11) or rigid sheath (7) is electrically conductive at least inthe area adjacent to the electric contacts or the electric contactspenetrate the elastic sheath (11) or rigid sheath (7). The device canbe, characterized in that the work surface is formed by a sheath (7,11), which is driven by rotationally driven work elements to perform areciprocating movement against the raw pieces of meat (6).

Example: Introduction of Aqueous Composition in Raw Meat

As example for raw meat, 10 kg of chicken breast without skin and bones,not size-reduced, with 20% by weight of aqueous composition of 12% byweight of table salt, 6% by weight of potato starch, 1.2% by weight ofphosphate, water to 100%, were filled into a rigid cooking box to beclosed, which box was covered with a fixed lid.

The cooking box was reciprocated along a first motion axis with 5 Hzover an amplitude of 7 cm for 8 min. Following this reciprocatingmovement, the raw chicken breast meat had taken up the aqueouscomposition essentially fully.

Alternatively, the reciprocating movement was performed along the firstmotion axis with 5 Hz and additionally along a second motion axisperpendicular thereto with 4.1 Hz, each over an amplitude of 7 cm for 5min.

Alternatively, the meat with the aqueous composition could be containedin a plastic sheath, from which air was extracted, and the filledplastic sheath in the cooking box, which was closed with a fixed lid,could be loaded by the reciprocating movement of the cooking box.

List of reference signs: 1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d work surface  2 work surface 3 work surface  4 work surface  5 drive arm  6 raw pieces of meat  7rigid sheath  8 cooking box  9 spring elements 10 pivot bearing 11elastic sheath 12 eccentric 13 rotary bearing 14 roller M drive motor

1. A device for producing meat products, comprising: an assembly of worksurfaces maintainable in a fixed relationship to one another duringapplying a mechanical loading on raw pieces of meat, the assembly beingdisposed to surround raw pieces of meat placed within the assembly; adrive mechanism configured to drive the assembly along a first axis in areciprocating movement of at least 10 mm along the first axis atfrequency of at least 1 Hz and to drive the assembly along a second axisin a reciprocating movement of at least 10 mm along the second axis atfrequency of at least 1 Hz, wherein the first axis and the second axisare angled with respect to each other, and the drive mechanism drivesthe assembly at different frequencies along the first and second axes.2. The device of claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism comprises: a firstdrive motor disposed to drive the assembly along the first axis; and asecond drive motor disposed to drive the assembly along the second axis.3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanismcomprises a rotary bearing and an eccentric drive.
 4. The deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the drive mechanism comprises first andsecond drive motors and each of the first and second drive motorscomprise a rotary bearing and an eccentric drive.
 5. The deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein the first and second drive motors and axisare controlled to drive the assembly in a reciprocating movement in theform of a Lissajous figure.
 6. The device according to claim 1, whereinfirst and second axes are approximately perpendicular to one another. 7.The device according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism comprises alinear drive motor.
 8. The device according to claim 1, comprisingsprings providing a bearing for each of the plurality of work surfaces.9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the drive mechanism isdynamically adjustable to generate drive frequencies along each of thefirst and second axes.
 10. The device according to claim 1, wherein thedrive mechanism is controlled to drive the assembly in a non-linearpattern.
 11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the pattern is aLissajous figure.
 12. The device according to claim 9, wherein thepattern is an arched pattern.
 13. The device according to claim 1,wherein a lower one of the work surfaces can be opened to drop pieces ofmeat after a mechanical loading operation.
 14. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the work surfaces are temperature controlled.
 15. Thedevice according to claim 1, wherein the work surfaces are arranged suchthat the assembly forms a box of triangular, rectangular, or polygonalcross-section.
 16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the assemblyis mounted on a pivot bearing.
 17. The device according to claim 1,wherein the assembly is mounted movably in a frame, wherein the drivemechanism comprises a common motor and drive arms to drive a pair of thework surfaces in an antagonistic reciprocating movement.
 18. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the assembly is continuous and tightlyencompasses the internal volume.
 19. The device according to claim 1,wherein the assembly is discontinuous and encompass the internal volumewith a spacing between the work surfaces.
 20. The device according toclaim 1, wherein an upper one of the work surfaces can be moved awayfrom the internal volume defined by the assembly to allow opening of theinternal volume.
 21. The device according to claim 1, wherein theassembly is mounted movably in a frame, wherein a drive is attachedbetween the frame and the assembly for the reciprocating movement of theassembly relative to the frame, and wherein two or more assemblies,which have a common drive for the reciprocating movement, are arrangedin the frame, wherein they are driven in such a manner by the drive thattheir reciprocating movement is antagonistic.